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Bianca Mlilo Business Reporter
SMALL to medium enterprises (SMEs) have called for dialogue with local manufacturers to reach an understanding that would allow both parties to make a profit. The call comes in the wake of the recently gazetted Statutory Instrument (S.I.) 64 of 2016, which restricts the importation of a range of products that are manufactured locally. These include maize meal, cooking oil, milk, butters, jams, mayonnaise, cheese, yoghurts, ice creams, coffee creamers, washing soaps, beauty creams and petroleum jellies.
The regulation also restricts the importation of building materials, fertilisers and second hand tyres. Small to Medium Enterprises Ministry Deputy Director of Research and Policy Development, Mr Tabani Shoko said consultations with affected stakeholders was critical in supporting industry growth.
“It would be good if we could have a discussion with the big industries that are actually producing, say the cooking oil producers. We could come up with a price, which allows the producer and the seller to both make profits,” said Mr Shoko.
“This would mean there would be no need for us to import cooking oil. This then translates to both parties benefiting from the arrangement.” He said if this could be done for all goods that are locally produced then a decline in their imports would be recorded.
Scores of small to medium enterprises relied on imports to support their businesses and have been complaining that local products are expensive. Industry executives through their associations, the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) and the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) have backed the new regulations, which were implemented after their recommendation to the Government.
Last week the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) reviewed the import restrictions and set limits on the quantity of goods individuals could import duty-free per month.
Online Reporter